Best Country Hits With ‘Texas’ in the Title

On this track from his recent album Leather, Texan Johnson lists off Texas mainstays such as the sweltering heat, chili with no beans and the Cowboys football team, and also shouts out Cindy Walker’s “Texas With a Capital T.”

Included on Adell’s 2023 project Buckle Bunny, she mourns seeing her ex-lover drive away “with those Dallas plates,” leaving her alone after she “fell in love with the Lone Star State.”

Originally recorded by Jim McGraw And The Western Sundowners in 1961, eight-time Grammy winners Asleep at the Wheel made this classic their own when they included it on their 1976 album Wheelin’ and Dealin’. The song depicts one man’s journey from Louisiana to Texas, where he takes a long look at the expanse of land, finds the love of his life and declares he’s “Gonna live here ’til I die.”

“When you look at me with those stars in your eyes/ I could waltz across Texas with you,” goes this western swing classic, which Tubb and his Texas Troubadours released in 1965. Their version reached No. 34 on the Hot Country Songs chart. “Waltz Across Texas” has since been covered by many other artists, including Bob Wills and Willie Nelson.

Born in Seminole, Texas and inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last year, Tucker released this song in 1978, maintaining that if she doesn’t make it past the pearly gates when she dies, just let her go to Texas — it’s a close second. Her version reached No. 5 on the Hot Country Songs chart. Ed Bruce previously recorded the song, hitting No. 52 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1977.

This Chips Moman and Bobby Emmons-written song was released in 1977 and included on Jennings’ album Ol’ Waylon. The song depicts a couple whose “high society” life has caused tension in their marriage, so they decide to move to Luckenbach, Texas to live a simpler life. The song, which also features vocals from Willie Nelson, became a No. 1 Billboard country hit.

Released in 1984, this song became Alabama’s 14th consecutive No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles (now Hot Country Songs) chart. From the jump, the song immediately finds lead singer Randy Owen offering a musical warning for any band wanting to play in Texas: You better bring a fiddle. The song details a concert in Houston, Texas where “a cowboy in the back stood up” and told the group that while he appreciated their music, he felt compelled to tell them “there’s just something missing in your song.” The tune goes on to namecheck songs like Bob Wills’ “Faded Love.”

Wylie Hubbard has never been one to hide how he feels, and in this 2003 song, he flys a strong banner for the Lone Star State — taking pride in the array of ace music that flows from Texas, while also taking aim at the state’s corrupt politicians and greedy corporations. He praises Texas’ iconic music venues, including Antone’s, Stubbs and Gruene Hall, and honors musicians like Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Hayes Carll and Robert Earl Keen.

This Tennessee resident’s heart is in Texas — but so are his multitude of ex-lovers. Written by Sanger D. Shafer and Lyndia J. Shafer, this song was featured on George Strait’s Ocean Front Property album and became a No. 1 Billboard country hit for Strait in 1987. The song was also nominated for a Grammy award for best male country vocal performance.

One of the premier Texas-praising songs of ’90s country music, this Little Texas hit became an enduring favorite at sports games across Texas and has been used in advertising for various companies in Texas, such as Six Flags Over Texas. The song’s lyrics depict someone who has traveled far and wide, “seen some pretty faces/ Been with some beautiful girls.” He maintains that the Lone Star State has been divinely favored, or as the song puts it, “God blessed Texas with His own hand/ Brought down angels from the promised land.”